Pesticides and health: Reality and challenges for change of practices in agriculture

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research which main goal was to describe the context and practices related to the use of pesticides among farmers in the community of Serrinha do Mendanha, Campo Grande, County of Rio de Janeiro. The methodological proposal had a qualitative approach and data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Thirty eight farmers participated in this research. Socio-economic profile shows elderly people working in agriculture, expressive percentile of illiteracy and low income. Despite the natural approach to the use of pesticides, which is a routine to these families, most informants believe that pesticides can affect their health, show some concern about the consumers and would like to know alternatives. These findings point to the possibility of change in agricultural practices. It is not a matter of simply offering information that in some way they already possess; it means developing strategies to reduce or even quit the use of pesticides in plantations.